I. Rodriguez continues extended rehab from strained oblique; fighting boredom, frustration

It has been a frustrating couple of weeks for veteran Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez as he continues to rehab from a right oblique strain suffered in early July. He had a setback last Wednesday in Harrisburg and has been in Washington ever since. Rodriguez played catch with Livan Hernandez on Tuesday and expects to play catch again Wednesday, but there is not a set timetable as to when he will swing a bat again. Rodriguez met with team doctors prior to Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds and hoped to have an idea of the next step and if they can set up a schedule for his return. He anticipates it will be a few days before he swings a bat. "It is tough. It has been hard. It is hard sitting there and twice go to rehab and not be able to (make progress) is tough," Rodriguez said. "I went to (Single-A) Hagerstown and went to (Double-A) Harrisburg and had the same (result). "It is hard because I want to play. That is what I love to do is play baseball. But I will be fine. All these things are a part of it. I play for a long time so (injuries) are a part of baseball." Rodriguez did not swing in Los Angeles and a for a full week in Miami. While in Florida, Rodriguez left his house only to rehab and workout. "(The trainer in Miami) worked on my lower back and my hips. He did a tremendous job. But when I swing, it started to get sore again," Rodriguez said. So all Rodriguez can do now is throw. Even when Rodriguez threw long toss in Hagerstown, he felt a little bit of soreness. Hoping that he does recover by the end of the season, he desperately wants to get back on the field with the Nationals. Rodriguez says he watches the Nationals play on television but has to switch to another channel when it gets into the sixth, seventh or eighth innings because he wants to be out there on the field. Rodriguez would like to play winter ball again after the season again for the Caguas Creoles in the Puerto Rico professional baseball league. He is also hoping his team will be able to draft his son, Ivan Dereck, a center fielder in the Minnesota Twins organization. The Caguas are the defending champions, so they would have the fifth pick out of five teams, but hopes the team can trade for him if Dereck goes before his team gets a chance to pick him. The draft is Sept. 25. Rodriguez said his son is also fighting through an injury, out 10 days with a strained lower abdominal muscle. "Somebody did a voodoo (doll) on us?", Rodriguez laughed.